Amazon Kids Tablet 8 (ages 3-5) review

The Kids Tablet 8 is Amazon's new first tablet for preschoolers, and it ranks fourth because the defaults are right for that age. Amazon lists an 8.7-inch display, 4GB of RAM and 64GB of storage, rated for up to 14 hours of video playback, in a kid-proof soft bumper. The browser only opens hand-picked sites, parental controls are on by default, and parents manage everything from the Amazon Kids Parent Dashboard app. The included year of Kids+ is aimed at ages 3 to 5, with characters such as Peppa Pig and Bluey and learning apps from Blippi and Khan Academy, and parents can add Google Play apps when they want. At 11.6 ounces it is light enough for a toddler to hold. The cons are early ratings, which averaged 3.2 out of 5 from 16 Amazon ratings when we checked, and 4GB of RAM, half of the 11-inch model. An ages 6 to 12 version with a slim hard case and a filtered open browser is also sold.

Who it is for

Parents buying a first tablet for a 3 to 5 year old who want the strictest settings by default.

Price

See vendor pricing (USD check pending).

US price check pending. See the vendor pricing page.

Key features

• 8.7-inch display with 4GB of RAM and 64GB of storage
• Kid-proof soft bumper and a 1-year Kids+ subscription in the box
• Web browser limited to hand-picked sites
• Parents can add apps from the Google Play Store
• Up to 14 hours of video playback and an 8MP autofocus rear camera

Strengths and weaknesses

• Strength: Light at 11.6 ounces, easy for small hands
• Strength: 64GB of storage for downloads on trips without Wi-Fi
• Strength: Kids+ content for ages 3 to 5 includes Peppa Pig, Bluey and Khan Academy apps
• Weakness: Early Amazon ratings averaged 3.2 out of 5 from 16 ratings when checked
• Weakness: Half the RAM of the Kids Tablet 11
• Weakness: Kids+ auto-renews after the first year unless you cancel

Key facts

• Ages: 3 to 5 (an ages 6 to 12 version is sold too)
• Display: 8.7-inch
• Memory: 4GB RAM, 64GB storage
• Battery: Up to 14 hours of video playback
• Weight: 11.6 ounces (329 grams)
• Included: Soft bumper, 1 year of Kids+

Where it ranks

Amazon Kids Tablet 8 (ages 3-5) is No. 3 in our Best Kids Tablets verdict.